Magnetic keeper accessory for wrench sockets

ABSTRACT

A keeper accessory designed to have an interference fit with the interior of a wrench socket and effective to hold a fastener part captive in the socket while being maneuvered into and out of assembled position. The keeper is blanked from magnetized, elastomeric stock with at least a portion of its perimeter bevelled to better accommodate an interference press fit with the interior sidewall of closely related sizes of wrench sockets.

United States Patent [1 91 3,808,918 Carr 5] May 7, 1974 MAGNETIC KEEPER ACCESSORY FOR 3,228,133 1/1966 Baermann 335/285 x WRENCH SOCKETS 3,392,767 7/1968 Stillwagon 81/125 X [76] Inventor: Harry A. Carr, 2934 El Caminito, v Ekaminer GeOrge Hams La Crescenta, Cahf' 91214 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sellers and Brace [22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 394348 A keeper accessory designed to have an interference fit with the interior of a wrench socket and effective to [52] US. Cl 81/125, 335/285, 335/303 hold a fastener part captive in the socket while being [51] Int. Cl B2 5b 13/02 maneuvered into and outof assembled position. The ['58] Field of Search 335/285, 303; 8l/l25; keeper is blanked from magnetized, elastomeric stock 1 145/50 DA; 248/206 A with at least a portion of its perimeter bevelled to better accommodate an interference press fit with the in- [56] References Cited terior sidewall of closely related sizes of wrench sock- UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,165,950 1/1965 Gooley et al. 81/125 13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 1 1914 3,808,918

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MAGNETIC KEEPER ACCESSORY FOR WRENCH SOCKETS This invention relates to an accessory for tools, and more particularly to a simple, inexpensive, magnetic keeper assembly designedfor self-retention within the interior of a socket wrench without need for attaching expedients.

The invention is'closely related to my copending application for U. S. Letters Pat, Ser. No. 328,448, filed Jan. 31, 1973 for a magnetic keeper. As is true of my earlier filed application, the keeper herein disclosed is blanked from sheet elastomeric stock having permanently magnetized particles embedded therein. A particular feature of the invention is the fact that the keeper is designed to be blanked from sheet stock material in mass quantities inexpensively and with one or more edges bevelled so as to lie in a plane inclined to the keeper face. The feather edge so provided by the bevel is readily upset and deformed to hold the keeper assembled in the socket by wedge action without causing buckling or objectionable bulging of surface areas in contact with a fastener part. Furthermore, it is found that this bevelled expedient, preferably provided on diametrically opposed edges of the keeper, renders the keeper usable with closely related sizes of wrench sockets. More specifically, a set of keepers as made for a complete set of socket wrenches is'usable with equal facility with either a set of metric wrenches or a set of English wrenches. This is a feature of considerable significance at this period in history when large areas of the globe are changing over from the English to the metric system with the result that mechanics will of necessity need wrench sets of both types. The present keeper invention will be usable interchangeably and equally satisfactorily in a wrench of either measurement system.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, magnetic keeper accessory having self-retentability in wrench sockets of closely related sizes and effective to retain a fastener part captive therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, readily blanked, magnetic keeper accessory for wrench sockets of unique design and versatility.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive magnetic keeper accessory having a tapering edge along at least a portion of its perimeter and adapted to have an interference press fit in a wrench socket without causing bulging or distortion of the main body of the keeper.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive, homogenous, magnetic keeper accessory readily installed in and removed from a wrench of conventional design and requiring no fastening or retaining means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a magnetic keeper accessory usable interchangeably without fastener expedients in related sizes of wrench sockets and whether made in accordance with the metric or English measurement systems.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. I is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention installed in a wrench socket and in use to hold a fastener part captive therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 on FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIG. 2 but showing variant configurations of the keeper;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the FIG. I keeper per se;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 on FIG. 5; i

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the keeper per se shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 on FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the keeper per se shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 on FIG. 9; 4

FIG. llis a vertical cross-sectional view showing still another modification of the keeper;

. FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line l2l2 on FIG. 11', and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the keeper shown in FIG. 12.

Referring initially more particularly to FIGS.'1, 2 and I 5 there is shown a typical illustrative embodiment of the invention keeper, designated generally 10, blanked from a thick sheet of magnetized elastomeric stock and shown seated crosswise of the inner end of a conven tional 12-point wrench socket head 1l.'This wrench socket has a square axial opening telescoped over the shank 13 of a wrenching handle 14. FIG. 1 shows keeper 10 in use to retain a cap screw 15 of magnetic material captive with its head 16 seated flush against the outwardly facing surface 17 of the keeper.

As is made clear by FIGS. 2 and 5, keeper I0 is blanked with all six of its edge faces 18 bevelled. It will therefore be appreciated and apparent from the drawing that the leading rim of each of these bevelled edges 18 is acute and relatively sharp angled compared to the obtuse angle made by the other or trailing rim of edge 18. This fact coupled with the resilient supple nature of the elastomeric material enables the acutely angled leading rim or rims to flex and deform as necessary to accommodate the oversized perimeterof the keeper to the points of contact with the interior sidewalls of the wrench socket. Stated differently, it will be understood that the cross-sectional diameter measured through the leading rims of bevelled edges 18 may be of the order of ten to fifteen thousandths greater than the internal dimensions of the wrench socket at the points of contact with the keeper accessory 10 when lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of the wrench socket and at the inner end thereof. It is a simple matter to assemble this slightly oversized accessory into the inner end of the wrench socket-with its innermost face flush against the bottom of the socket. When so installed in a typical 12-point socket, certain portions only of the leading rim of the bevelled edges have an interference fit with the keeper and these portions of the keeper may be slightly compressed and bulged without adverse affect on the flatness of surface 17 in contact with the flat, juxtaposed surface of the fastener head 16. And this is true even though a hexagonal nut rather than a bolt head is assembled within the wrench socket.

If for any reason it is desired to remove the keeper accessory 10 from the socket itis a simple matter to engage the hooked end of a wire or other tool around the edge of the keeper and withdraw it from the socket for installation into another wrench socket.

Referring now to FlG. 3, there is shown a variant configuration of keeper, there designated 10', and shown installed in the same wrench socket 11. It is pointed out that keeper 10 differs from keeper l previously described only in that two diametrically opposed flats of the hexagonal perimeter have been bevelled as indicated at 18. The leading rim edges of these two bevelled surfaces have an interference fit with the interior side walls of socket 11 whereas the remaining hexagonal faces of keeper l0 lie perpendicular to the planes of the flat faces of the keeper. These perpendicular hex faces may have a loose fit with the sidewalls since it is the leading rim edges of the bevelled faces which are relied upon to have an interference fit with the wrench socket to retain the keeper assembled in the socket. In all other respects it will be understood that keeper corresponds with that shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows a third modification of the keeper accessory designated 10". This keeper is generally rectangular and has an overall length slightly in excess of the internal diameter of the wrench socket. As shown, only the transverse end of the keeper is bevelled as indicated at 18" whereas the other transverse end edge lies perpendicular to the flat faces of the keeper. This perpendicular end is held in frictional engagement with the internal sidewalls by the interference fit between the rim edge of the bevelled edge 18" and the portions of the socket sidewall in contact therewith. This modification of the invention uses substantially less material than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and is found to have adequate holding power for all except heavier fastener parts.

Referring now to FlGS. 11-13, a third embodiment of the keeper accessory is there shown, designated 10". This embodiment is blanked from the same magnetized elastomeric material as described above but is blanked in the form of a disc. it will be understood that the'sharp-edged rim of the disc is advantageous because of the ease with which the disc or the hexagonal embodiments of'the keeper can be manufactured. This arrangement also has the advantage of minimizing any slight surface distortion produced in the face of the keeper by the interference fit with the socket sidewall, it being well known that the magnetized keeper prefer.- ably has a maximum portion of its face in contact with the fastener-part for maximum holding capability.

Attention is also called to FIG. 13 showing details not previously described but understood as desirably present in each of the keeper embodiments. For example, attention is called to the flattened horse-shoe shaped dotted lines 20,20 indicating independent horse-shoe shaped magnetized domains each terminating at its ends in a north pole and a south pole lying flush with this is likewise true of each of the keepers 10,10',l0". The opposite or upper face of keeper 10'," shown in FIG. 13 is coated or distinctively marked as indicated by 21 to indicate to the mechanic that this face should be remote from the fastener part and at the innermost end of the wrench socket. If a film of colored material is employed to distinguish this face it is desirable that this film be remote from the face through which the magnetic poles emanate for the obvious reason that the presence of the film constitutes an air gap in the flux circuit through the magnet and the fastener part when in contact with the keeper. This adversely affects the magnets holding power for well known reasons.

While the particular magnetic keeper accessory for wrench sockets herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims. I

I claim: I

1. A keeper accessory for installation in a wrench socket to hold an unattached fastener captive therein, said accessory comprising a plaque of permanently magnetized elastomeric'material blanked from stock of uniform thickness having flat parallel opposed faces and having a bevelled edge along at leasta portion of its periphery, said keeper including the bevelled edge thereof being sized to have an interference fit transversely of the interior of a wrench socket, and which bevelled edge is upset and deformed by pressure contact with the interior socket sidewall as said plaque is forcibly installed crosswise of the inner end of a wrench socket.

2. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is longer than it is wide.

3. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is generally rectangular.

4. A keeper as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said keeper is bevelled across one end thereof.

5. A keeper as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said keeper as one transverse end lying in a plane generally perpendicular to. the parallel faces of said keeper.

6. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the same is generally circular and in that a major portion of the perimeter thereof is bevelled and lies at other than an angle of to the opposite planar faces thereof.

7. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the same is permanently magnetized to provide a plurality of separate magnetized zones having the poles thereof aligned with one another in parallel rows between the opposite faces of said keeper 8. A keeper as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said magnetized zones have the poles thereof terminating on the same face of the keeper.

9. A keeper as defined in claim 8 characterized in that one face thereof has a distinctive appearance readily distinguishing it from the other face.

10. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is hexagonal in shape.

11. A keeper as defined in claim 10 characterized in that a plurality of said hexagonal edges are bevelled.

face of said keeper and in that the material from which said keeper is blanked is readily deformable along said bevelled edges whereby said keeper is adapted to have an interference fit with the interior sidewalls of wrench sockets of different closely related sizes. 

1. A keeper accessory for installation in a wrench socket to hold an unattached fastener captive therein, said accessory comprising a plaque of permanently magnetized elastomeric material blanked from stock of uniform thickness having flat parallel opposed faces and having a bevelled edge along at least a portion of its periphery, said keeper including the bevelled edge thereof being sized to have an interference fit transversely of the interior of a wrench socket, and which bevelled edge is upset and deformed by pressure contact with the interior socket sidewall as said plaque is forcibly installed crosswise of the inner end of a wrench socket.
 2. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is longer than it is wide.
 3. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is generally rectangular.
 4. A keeper as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said keeper is bevelled across one end thereof.
 5. A keeper as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said keeper as one transverse end lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the parallel faces of said keeper.
 6. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the same is generally circular and in that a major portion of the perimeter thereof is bevelled and lies at other than an angle of 90* to the opposite planar faces thereof.
 7. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the same is permanently magnetized to provide a plurality of separate magnetized zones having the poles thereof aligned with one another in parallel rows between the opposite faces of said keeper.
 8. A keeper as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said magnetized zones have the poles thereof terminating on the same face of the keeper.
 9. A keeper as defined in claim 8 characterized in that one face thereof has a distinctive appearance readily distinguishing it from the other face.
 10. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper is hexagonal in shape.
 11. A keeper as defined in claim 10 characterized in that a plurality of said hexagonal edges are bevelled.
 12. A keeper as defined in claim 10 characterized in that all of said hexagonal faces are bevelled and sized to have an interference fit with the interior sidewalls of a hexagonal wrench socket.
 13. A keeper as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the edge portion thereof is bevelled acutely to one face of said keeper and in that the material from which said keeper is blanked is readily deformable along said bevelled edges whereby said keeper is adapted to have an interference fit with the interior sidewalls of wrench sockets of different closely related sizes. 